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Experts warn about rise in gambling addiction thanks to legal sports betting

As more states legalize sports betting, including North Carolina, gambling addiction hotlines are taking more calls, often from young men.

Posted 2024-04-06T17:07:12+00:00 - Updated 2024-04-06T17:07:12+00:00

WCNC

Gambling addiction hotlines are seeing an uptick in callers as more states legalize sports betting.

Experts say the callers are getting younger and are often men in the 20s and 30s. The trend isn't unexpected, according to officials who said Ohio saw a 55% increase in calls for addiction during the first year of legalized sports betting.

North Carolina legalized mobile sports betting in March, just in time for the ACC basketball tournament and March Madness. Nearly $200 million was wagered in the state during the first week of legal betting, according to lottery officials.

Over $23.9 million was bet on the first day, of which almost $12.4 million were promotional bets offered by sportsbooks to attract new customers. Bettors were paid over $12 million in winnings during the first 12 hours of sports gambling in North Carolina.